Dennis Thomas, saxophonist who co-founded Kool & the Gang, dies at 70

The original seven-member lineup included brothers Robert “Kool” Bell and Ronald Bell, who later went by Khalis Bayyan, along with their teenage friends Mr. Thomas, Mickens, Ricky Westfield, George Brown and Charles Smith. After five years and several name changes, they became known as Kool & the Gang in 1969, placing Kool’s name front and center but maintaining a collaborative approach to running the band.